UMaine study abroad participation rebounds to pre-pandemic levels

Education abroad programs at the University of Maine have seen significant growth in participation since the pandemic as cohorts for the summer, fall and academic year of 2023–2024 have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

“Our first semester sending out students during the pandemic, fall semester of 2021, was a group of just 17 students,” says Erika Clement, assistant director of education abroad. “It’s been a long time since we’ve held a pre-departure meeting with such a full room and it’s wonderful to see. You could really feel the buzz in the air.” 

A record number of students are preparing to depart for their studies abroad. Seventeen students will be studying abroad over the summer and 51 students will participate in the Fall 2023 semester abroad with 12 of them going for the full academic year. The top destinations include Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea. More students also applied for prestigious scholarships, such as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and the Killam Fellowship Program.

“We are so thrilled to be sending the largest cohort of UMaine students abroad next year,” said Orlina Boteva, director of International Programs. “When we surveyed students, who explored study abroad but did not apply to participate, about the barriers they encountered, financial resources were the number one reason for not pursuing this enriching opportunity.”

Support the Study Abroad Scholarship Fund through the Fill the Steins campaign on the Maine Day of Giving, April 26, 2023.